Anyone connected to DC Stoddert Soccer would have been proud on Saturday, November 20 when many current and former players took to Eastern High School’s beautiful turf field for the DC Public Schools citywide soccer finals. Wilson High School’s Girls’ Varsity took on the challengers from Bell Multicultural High School in the Girls’ Final at 10 am, with Wilson’s boys again competing for the City Title against Bell in the Boys’ Final at noon.

Check out these superb photosfrom the Girls’ and Boys’ games by Wilson alumnus parentKelley Doolan.

The Wilson Tigers did not disappoint their fans, mostly parents and friends, as they cruised to a 6-0 win over the Griffins, with all but one goal, some of them spectacular, scored in the second half and by different players. When I asked Coach Jo Gomez, in her first year at Wilson’s helm, replacing Hannah Krieger, a DC Stoddert Travel Coach, if her girls had come through the DC Stoddert ranks, she replied affirmatively: “Yes, almost all of them.” In fact, several of the girls who scored, including the 11th minute opening goal by Sarah Lauritzen, had been coached by their dads in DC Stoddert. The prettiest goal, scored by freshman Natalie Larkin, came from a curling drive outside the box by the talented midfielder. The final score, 6-0, reflected the dominance of the Wilson girls in the match.

Field photos by Kelley Doolan. Team photo by Mary Lord.

The Boys’ Final--Rematch from 2009, Bell:2-1

The Boys’ Final, a replica of last year’s final, won by Bell 1-0 in a controversial match on a penalty kick, took on a highly competitive edge from the opening whistle. Bell’s Griffins notched the first tally, when Wilson’s usually highly reliable goalie, Stuart Maeder, keeper for our Div. 1 U17 Blue Lightning travel team, was unable to hold onto a Bell shot on goal in the first minute of first-half overtime, with a Bell forward seizing the loose ball and putting it in goal for the 1-0 lead.

Midfield play by both teams dominated the game, with both teams showing good skills, strong possession soccer, and spirited competiveness. Neither team seemed able to penetrate the other team’s packed defense, until Wilson’s Cole Montgomery, also a Blue Lightning player, flicked a well-timed through-ball from Travis Reuther (who plays for our U19 Griffin travel team) over the outstretched arms of Jose Ferrufino, Bell’s keeper, to tie the score at 1-1 late in the second half.

The game went to two 10-minute overtime periods, each team looking for the “Silver Goal” to win the title. Some seven minutes into the first overtime period, with Wilson’s sturdy centerback and U19 Griffin anchor D’Arcy Williams off the field because of a Yellow Card ”reckless tackle” infraction, Josselin Possian, speedy Bell winger, breezed down the left flank, crossing in front of the goal directly to Dagoberto Rodriquez on the far post for the game winner. Both Possian and Rodriquez played with our U16 Metros in the NCSL just two seasons ago.

The final whistle brought Griffins players and fans onto the field in droves, screaming and shouting for joy as their school took its second straight City Soccer Title. Wilson’s players, heads hung low, with some stretched out on the field, could only reflect on a lost opportunity, and dream of “wait until next year.”

DC Stoddert’s Legacy

DC Stoddert, well represented in both finals, should be proud of being an “incubator” for youth soccer, for helping young players learn the skills that will keep them in the game, and for the coaches, often parents, who nurtured their soccer skills and provided the incentive for these youngsters to enjoy and stay in the game.